AS France has hitherto, by the Means of Great-Britain chiefly, been prevented from enſlaving the World and Mankind, they are become of Courſe our implacable and moſt inveterate Enemies, and of late every where our Competitors in Trade, and, as one of the Links of their grand Syſtem, Encroachers upon our Territories; regardleſs of all Faith, Oaths, or Treaties, their national Polity being one continued Train of Chicane and Deceit; witneſs, the late audacious Inſult of an abandoned Crew of his Majeſty's own Subjects, inſtigated and ſupported by that grand Monarch, upon the Liberties of Great-Britain itſelf.

THEIR late Encroachments upon his Majeſty's Rights and Territories, in the Eaſt and Weſt-Indies, in Africa, and in Hudſon's-Bay, with the moſt provoking Circumſtances, are ſo well known, that I believe I need not mention them. And now they ſeem avowedly, and with much Aſſurance, to open the ſame ſhameful Scene upon this Continent, which they have indeed been long practiſing underhand. Thus by Syſtem they are become the Diſturbers of the Peace of Mankind, and worſe than a Peſt, for there is no End of it to every contiguous Society; we are not the only Objects of their Reſentment.

THAT vaſt Sums have been expended upon their royal Geographers, and Hydrographers, in order that their Maps and Sea Charts may quadrate with their political Syſtem of Encroachments upon the Territories of other Nations, is apparent to the whole World; and thus by eſtabliſhing their imaginary Rights by Pen and Ink, they are determined to confirm their Accuracy by a forcible Poſſeſſion. Another Piece of Fineſſe, or French Policy, is that of burying Leaden Plates up and down this Continent, with certain Inſcriptions, in order to form new Pretenſions; but in this, I am told, they were diſcovered by ſome of our Indians, who, tho' not pleaſed, were diverted with the Whim, as I am confident the World muſt be with their other Project, being equally ridiculous. What Figure we are like to make in this Diſpute; we, I ſay, who are ſo nearly concerned in the Event, and who muſt become, in all Probability, the firſt Sacrifice; we, to whom, in a great Meaſure, all this Impertinence is owing, who by an ill-judged Frugality meanly neglected the Preventing their firſt Intruſions at Crown-Point, and that important Paſs at Niagara, and ſome more of the like Kind, together with a total Neglect of Indian Affairs, I ſhall not take upon me to determine; nor ſhall I enter into a Diſcuſſion of the Reaſons of that Neglect, or to whom owing, at this Time; this is not the Time to retroſpect, we muſt now look forward. Our Caſe at preſent is neither more nor leſs than this, viz. That the French are now drawing a Line along the Borders of our Settlements in every Province, from the Mouth of St. Lawrence, to the Mouth of Miſſiſippi, and building Forts to ſecure the moſt convenient Paſſes on the Lakes, that form the Communication; by which they will effectually cut off all Intercourſe and Traffick, between us and the Indians inhabiting the inland Countries; and likewiſe compel thoſe who are Neighbours and Allies, by reaſon of the abſolute Dependance they muſt have on the French for every thing they want, as well as for their Liberty of Hunting and Fiſhing, to fall under their Subjection, or ſtarve. It therefore, I think, behoveth us at this Time to exert our utmoſt Endeavours, by all the Means in our Power, to prevent ſo bad a Neighbourhood. It is a Maxim in England, to avoid, if poſſible, the Neighbourhood of a great Lord; by the ſame Parity of Reaſon, what ought we then not to do, to avoid that of an ambitious, all-graſping Monarch, whoſe Will, often the Caprice of a Miſs, or a Favourite, is the Law; For ſuch is our Pleaſure, is their whole Corpus Juris. One great Step, if not the greateſt, to this grand Monarch's univerſal Syſtem, is that of being poſſeſs'd of this Northern Continent of America, a Territory boundleſs as is his Ambition, in which he has made not a little Progreſs.

THE vaſt Anxiety the Court and Kingdom of France were under on the Loſs of Cape-Breton, eſteemed the Key and Dunkirk of North America, and which I doubt will be equally baneful to us as ever the other was to Britain, together with other numerous Circumſtances, and indeed from every Step taken, may convince us, that the Plan for extirpating the Subjects of Great-Britain out of America, has been long in Agitation; the French lay their Plans of this Kind at a Diſtance, but ſeldom loſe the Point in view.

THEY have for many Years been indefatigable in their Endeavours to ſeduce our Indians; we on the other Side, have been as indolent as they could wiſh; and if ever they ſucceed in this Point effectually, they will have little elſe to do.

REGULAR Troops are of little Uſe here, further than to fight from behind Walls; it is by Means of the Indians, and by them only, that any Stop can be put to thoſe wicked Encroachments. And this is as yet very far from being either impoſſible or impracticable, if all Hands ſet heartily about it; the very French themſelves openly upbraid us with our Indolence, and Diviſions, which they acknowledge to be their greateſt Security. It is evident therefore I think to a Demonſtration, that if we continue to neglect our Indians much longer, or, if this Plan of a Congreſs for a Confederacy ſhould prove abortive through the Caprice of any Man, or Number of Men, or by any ill-judged Frugality, that we may from thence date the Commencement of the the Diſſolution and Deſtruction of theſe Colonies: As for my own Part I ſincerely believe the Indians will go off in a Body, and in that Caſe we ſhall moſt certainly be the firſt undone, Great-Britain will ſuffer, and all Europe will ſooner or later feel the Effects of it. Thoſe therefore, who are more immediately concerned, and with whom we have entruſted the Security of our Lives and Fortunes, have not a little to anſwer for to the preſent Generation, as well as to thoſe who are to come after us, for their Conduct upon this critical Occaſion.

LET us for once ſuppoſe the French, by their Fortifications and Lines of Communication, abſolutely Maſters, either by Force, or Friendſhip of the Indians; how eaſy a Matter would it be for them with a ſmall naval Force to put us between two Fires? A ſmall Force of regular Troops to attack Albany, and New-York, at the ſame Time, while their Blood-hounds are burning and maſſacring our Out-Settlements, is, in my humble Opinion, the Plan laid, and which they will put in Execution ſooner or later, according as they become Maſters of the Indians; and what a Cataſtrophe will this create!

WHERE is now that Champion of our Liberties, who ſo worthily exerted himſelf in the Caſes of Rotten Row, and rotten black Gowns? Let him now ſtand forth, our All being at Stake, and diſplay his Eloquence; a Philippic or two; for never were Caſes more parallel than that of Greece and ours, when Demoſthenes, by his powerful Eloquence, raiſed ſuch a Spirit of Liberty in his Countrymen the Athenians, ready to ſink, and upon the Brink of Deſtruction, as ſaved his Country; a few Philippics, I ſay, in that Gentleman's perſwaſive Manner, I am ſerious, might have wonderful Effects, and eternize his Memory. And the Caſes being ſo much alike, the ſame Reaſoning, with a very few mutatis mutandis, will hold; we moſt certainly want the Aſſiſtance of our beſt Heads and Hands, to infuſe ſome publick Spirit amongſt us, and to raiſe us out of our preſent Lethargy.

LET us not, however, deſpair, we are not yet paſt Redemption; we have Hands, and I hope Hearts enough, if properly employed, to recover all our paſt Lapſes and Miſteps. But, as a worthy Patriot upon the like Occaſion obſerves, this muſt indeed be very burdenſome; for if the greateſt State in Europe, animated by the Proſpect of univerſal Dominion, enabled by the abſolute Power of its Government to draw every Shilling out of private Purſes into the publick Purſe; and aſſiſted by the perſonal Service of all its People, through the national Vanity, and martial Habit of the Country; if ſuch a State will preſs the Ruin of its Neighbours with an obſtinate Expence of all its Blood, and all its Treaſure, no Man can think it is an eaſy Taſk to reduce or reſiſt a Power which ſhall act this Part: But you are to conſider, ſays he, not ſo much the Difficulties you muſt now encounter to defend yourſelves, in this Conjuncture, as the certain Impoſſibility of your ever being able to do it again in any other, if you loſe the preſent Opportunity. I ſhall only therefore beg Leave to ſay as to the State of our Affairs, the Fact is this, that ſuch is the Power, ſuch the Ambition, ſuch the deſtructive Plan laid down by France; a plan to divide and enſlave the World; a Plan purſued with the utmoſt Obſtinacy through every Difficulty for above a Century paſt; ſo far my Author; how juſtly applicable to the preſent Situation of our Affairs, judge O Reader!

BUT as pointing out thoſe impending Evils, without offering, or attempting to offer at a Remedy, a Practice too common, and is only doing Things by Halves, I ſhall beg Leave, with much Submiſſion, to offer ſuch Hints as have occurred to me from long Obſervation, which I hope ſome abler Hand will take up and improve with Candour (avaunt Criticiſm) I invite them, nay I challenge it, as they will anſwer the Contrary to their God, their King, their Country, and Poſterity.

THAT we have loſt, in a great Meaſure, all that ſincere Friendſhip and Attachment which did once ſubſiſt between us and our Indians, upon which, from the Malevolence of a wicked Neighbourhood, our Being, in this Part of the World, chiefly depends, is notorious to the World; by what, or by whoſe Means, as before, I ſhall not take upon me to diſcuſs, the Taſk is invidious; I ſhall only beg Leave to obſerve, that the injurious and villainous Treatment they have met with for theſe many Years, in their Way of Trade, and that without Redreſs, together with the proper Uſe our implacable Enemies have made of it, who, by all Accounts, however they may treat their Indians in other Matters, in that of Traffick they are always honeſtly and juſtly dealt by, are the Sources of our Misfortunes. Now in order to regain their Affections and Friendſhip effectually, it will be neceſſary, in my humble Opinion, in the firſt Place to eſtabliſh ſome good and ſufficient Laws for the Regulation of their Trade, and for ſummary and ſevere Juſtice in caſe of Abuſes: Under the Government of Boſton, they have ſeveral, which appear to me very reaſonable, and may be improved; one I ſhall here beg Leave to inſert, it is but ſhort.

BY an Act of the 12th of GEO, it is enacted, That Proviſions, Cloathing, &c. ſuitable for carrying on a Trade with the Indians, not exceeding the Value of Nine Thouſand Pounds, be procured at the Coſt of the Province, and the Produce applied for ſupplying the Indians, by ſuch Perſons as ſhall be annually choſen, &c. who ſhall annually produce fair Accounts of their Proceedings; which Supplies ſhall be lodged at, &c. That a ſuitable Perſon ſhall be cheſen annually at each of the Places where any of the Goods are lodged; which Truck-maſters ſhall be under Oath, and give ſufficient Security for the faithful Execution of that Truſt, and ſuch Inſtructions as they ſhall receive from Time to Time; and ſhall keep fair Accounts of their Trade and Dealings with the Indians, and ſhall return the ſame, with the Produce, to the Perſon or Perſons who ſhall be appointed to ſupply them with Goods; and they ſhall not trade with the Indians, on their own Account. That the Truckmaſters ſell to the Indians at the Prices ſet in the Invoices ſent them from Time to Time, without any Advance thereon; and ſhall allow the Indians for their Furs, and other Goods, as the Market ſhall be at Boſton, according to the laſt Advices from the Perſon or Perſons that ſhall ſupply them with the ſame Commodities of equal Goodneſs: Rum to be given to the Indians in moderate Quantities, by the Truck-maſters only: No Perſon whatſoever, other than the Truckmaſters, and they only as ſuch, ſhall or may preſume, by themſelves, or any other for them, directly or indirectly, to ſell, truck, barter, or exchange to any Indian or Indians, any Wares, Merchandize, or Proviſions, within ſix Miles of any Truck-houſe, on Penalty of forfeiting Fifty Pounds, or ſix Months Impriſonment, &c.

SOME good Laws of this Kind would go a great Way to anſwer all our Purpoſes, if duly executed. The French treat Indians much à la Cavalier, and often threaten to cut them off, if they do not join with them in their Excurſions, and will be as good as their Words, ſo ſoon as they have compleated their Schemes; and of this the Indians are not without their Apprehenſions, and therefore have ſtill a Hankering or Leaning towards our Intereſt, which, if properly managed, will ſoon reconcile them; they are far from being inſenſible that it is their Intereſt to be on our Side, or that they can at any Time, or any where, be ſo well ſupplied. They are at this Time upon the Ballance, between Hopes and Fears, and if we do not now fix them, I believe we may bid them fairly adieu! What leſs can we expect from them? we, who have been cheating and abuſing them for ſo many Years, without Redreſs, in a moſt abominable Manner, of which take the following Specimen: Without affording them the leaſt Aſſiſtance in any Shape, beſides that of a few Preſents from Time to Time, which in Reality are of no Manner of Uſe to them, being divided at Albany, the far greater Part remains with thoſe conſcientious Handlers there, for Rum, ſo that the Caſtles know little more of the Matter than that there was a Preſent made. Theſe however are but Palliatives, there muſt be ſomething more ſubſtantial in the Caſe:

HAVING, as above, made proper Regulations for the Trade, and that they may be no longer ſo unmercifully impoſed upon, both in Weight and Meaſure, as well as in Quality and Prices, which has almoſt alienated their Hearts from us; the next Step that I would adviſe ſhould be taken, is, that of erecting proper Fortifications in or near every one of the Indian Caſtles, with a Garriſon of about 15 or 20 Men in each, with an approved Sergeant, two or three of which may be Smiths, in double Pay, with a few Field Pieces, Spare Arms, Snow-Shoes (with which the French are always provided) ſmall Hatchets, and ſome Dogs of a proper Kind, to prevent Surprizes in the Night.

THIS, I doubt not, the Indians would readily come into, as it would greatly incourage their Hunting, as well as their War Parties, and as it would be a Security for their old Men, Women, and Children, and a ſafe Retreat for themſelves upon all Occaſions; without ſuch Security, they are impatient when Abroad, and ſeldom care to go far; beſides the Loſs of Numbers to the Service, upon any Emergency, who are detained at home for that Purpoſe. Theſe Forts might at the ſame time anſwer all the Purpoſes of Truck or Tradinghouſes, to be divided by Lot amongſt the contributing Colonies as far as they will go; and which, if properly ſtored with Indian Goods, and regulated according to the Method in New-England, would very ſoon create ſuch an Intercourſe and Connection between the remote Indian Nations and ours. as would turn out greatly to our Advantage. And one ſingle independent Company would garriſon the whole; and what a Trifle of a Charge would this be, in Compariſon to the Advantages we might hope for, and expect from it; and indeed it is my humble Opinion, that nothing leſs will effectually ſecure our Intereſt and Friendſhip with the Indians.

As it is agreed on all Hands, that a good ſtrong Fort ought to be erected at or near the Wood Creek, in order to counter-ballance that of Crown Point, I ſhall make no Doubt but that thoſe who are entruſted with the Care of our Security, will ſoon ſee that Part (as well as every other) of their Duty put in Execution, and I make as little Doubt but that his Majeſty, upon a proper Application, would, out of his wonted Goodneſs, favour us with an independent Company of Highlanders; there ſeems to be ſo much Affinity both in their Diſpoſition and Dreſs, (which I would have compleat Highland) with that of our Indians, that I am confident they would be highly pleaſed with them, and I doubt not, have a very good Effect. In caſe of enliſting for this Service, Care ought to be taken to avoid all Roman Catholicks; we have, I doubt, too many of that Kidney already from Ireland in theſe four Companies.

ONE Objection to this Scheme may be, the Expence and Trouble attending the Victualling and Relieving: To which I beg Leave to ſay, that if the Indians approve of it, they will undertake to carry and eſcort Goods or Proviſions, at an eaſy Rate: Or why may not thoſe very Garriſons in a little Time, with proper Care, be induced to raiſe their own Proviſions? Suppoſe the Victualling of twenty Men to coſt the Government Two Hundred Pounds yearly, let thoſe Men be encouraged, and ſet to Work to provide themſelves, and let them have the Two Hundred Pounds beſides their Pay, and a Title to all the Lands they do or can improve, and their Diſcharge when demanded; this would ſave the Trouble, the Riſque, the Relieving and the Expence of carrying Proviſions, and be the Means of better ſettling our Frontiers; there are thoſe to be found, I doubt not, who would undertake, if properly encouraged. That of relieving Garriſons here, is in my humble Opinion but bad Policy; I would have none ſent but ſome Tradeſmen, all the reſt ſhould be only ſuch as have been uſed to Huſbandry and Labour: Had this Method been taken fifty Years ago, we ſhould very probably have had many Thouſand Families in the Seneca's Country at this Day.

THE Uſe of Garriſons here, are either to encourage and protect Settlements, or to ſecure important Paſſes; the French have ſucceeded in the latter, we, I ſhall not ſay for what Reaſon, in neither.

THIS however is not all, if we intend to convince them that we are really in earneſt, and that they ſhould fight for us, we muſt fight along with them, and always to have ſome of our People to head their Parties; the French ſeldom fail of this Method: I ſhould therefore adviſe the Eſtabliſhing an independent Company or two, in time of War, of an Hundred good Men each, with an Addition of five Indians from each Nation, to be in conſtant Pay, Peace or War, as Rangers; one of the Companies from Connecticut would add Strength to the County of Albany; the Officers to be Men of ſome Diſtinction and Knowledge, and fully impowered to receive Complaints, and redreſs Grievances amongſt the Indians; to be a Sort of a flying Camp, frequently moving from Nation to Nation, to head all Parties, and to command out as many Indians upon any Emergency as they may think proper; one Company of Rangers properly diſpoſed, will be of more Uſe than three in Garriſon. And here I ſhall beg Leave once for all to obſerve, that no Perſon employed in this Service be allowed to trade with the Indians, on the ſevereſt Penalties.

THUS our Indians being ſecured in an honeſt and fair Trade, their Caſtles ſecured, either for the Safety of their Families, or as a Retreat for themſelves; and being well aſſured of our being in Earneſt to ſupport them upon all Occaſions, as we have in former Days done, it is not to be doubted but that we ſhall very ſoon get into their good Graces and Friendſhip.

THE King, the Parliament, and indeed every Britiſh Subject, being deeply concerned in the Event of this Congreſs at Albany, will doubtleſs ſcan the Conduct of our Colony Aſſemblies upon this Occaſion; a hearty and generous Concurrence will have wonderful Effects, and I make no Doubt but that we ſhall be able in a little Time, by proper Meaſures, to turn the Tables upon that faithleſs Nation, who have been long underhand endeavouring our Deſtruction, and who ſeem now, by their audacious Inſults upon our Traders and Plantations, openly to avow it.

LET us not therefore, Gentlemen of the Aſſemblies, by an ill-tim'd Frugality loſe our All; would any of you, pray Gentlemen, loſe a Sheep for a Halfpenny's worth of Tar? Surely not. Let us act like Britons, and with Unanimity; and here give me Leave to put you in Mind of the Fable

SIR W. Temple obſerves, that in the Kingdom of Great-Britain, when the Romans firſt entered, it was divided into ſeveral Diſtricts, each governed by its own Prince, or Governor, different in their Views and Councils, by which Means they became an eaſy Conqueſt: Dum ſinguli pugnabunt, univerſi vincebantur; while they fought ſingly, the whole Iſland was ſubdued. The French have little to fight for but the Glory of their Monarch; we have the Glory of Britain, our Religion, our Liberties and our Properties, and upwards of a Hundred Years Labour in theſe wild Deſarts, for the Sake of our Poſterity; in ſhort, it is pro aris & focis, that we are to ſtruggle; and I doubt it is now or never. Should this Congreſs break up without anſwering the intended Deſign of it, I ſhall very readily adviſe my Children to look out in time for a ſafer Retreat.

LET us ſeriouſly conſider what Deſolation and Deſtruction our innocent Neighbours and Fellow Subjects have undergone from thoſe barbarous Canadeans, who are eſteemed, even in France, a Race of Men loſt to all thoſe Principles of Honour upon which that Nation pique themſelves; who, together with their Cannibals, take Pleaſure in wantonly burning Cottages, and in the inhuman Murder, and excruciating harmleſs old Women and helpleſs Infants; let us, I ſay, ſeriouſly conſider what we have undergone, when the French were but a Handful, and our Indians our Friends: What muſt be our Fate when they are become more numerous, and they are daily increaſing, and our Indians on their Side? I ſhudder to think of it.

LET us conſider what Anxiety thoſe poor People undergo, with what Uncaſineſs they go to their Beds, what Alarms and Heart beatings they are under upon the leaſt Barking of a Dog, expecting every Moment to have their Scalps carried off, and their Bodies mangled; while we enjoy a profound Reſt, without Care or Thought: Is this Truth, and will it not move you, Gentlemen?

LET us exert our beſt Endeavours to ſhew our Gratitude to our Mother Country, who has hitherto nurſed and ſupported us at an infinite Expence, by preſerving to them, and to them only, the Fruits of our Labour.

THE Time was when we had only to ſend to our Indians to diſcharge the French from building Forts, or making Encroachments; but we have loſt it by a fatal Neglect of Indian Affairs. It is well known with how much Submiſſion they begg'd Leave to erect but a ſmall Hut, as a Reſting-place only, at Niagara: How different the Times! The Execution of this Scheme, or, indeed, any other, and ſome one or other there muſt be, will, no doubt, be attended with a very conſiderable Expence; but when the other Colonies, who are not leſs concerned in the Event, come in for their Proportion, together with what Aſſiſtance his Majeſty may be ſo good as to favour us with, it is to be hoped the Charge will become tolerably eaſy: Be that as it will we muſt launch out. And is there ever a Britiſh Subject amongſt us, who alone know the true Value of Liberty and Property, that will, upon this Occaſion, grudge a few Pence upon every Hundred Acres, or a few Shillings for every Slave, to ſecure to him and his Poſterity, all that is valuable in Life, or for which Life is valuable. Or why may not the Gentry pay for their Saſh-windows upon ſuch preſſing Occaſions, and — Shillings upon every Carriage-wheel of Pleaſure? This is all ready Money. And as the Gentlemen paid lately for their Wigs, why may not the Ladies, in their Turn, pay for their Hoops? After all, a gentle Land Tax, being the moſt equitable upon thoſe Occaſions, muſt be our dernier Refort. Trade is at preſent an Object of Compaſſion, and muſt be gently treated, as well as the poorer Sort of the People without Property: They muſt fight our Battles; which puts me in mind of the Fable,

The SENSIBLE ASS.

AN old Fellow was feeding an Aſs in a fine green Meadow; and being alarmed with the ſudden Approach of the Enemy, was impatient with the Aſs to put himſelf forward, and fly with all the Speed he was able. The Aſs aſk'd him, Whether or no he thought the Enemy would clap two Pair of Panniers upon his Back? The Man ſaid, No, there was no fear of that. Why then, ſays the Aſs; I'll not ſtir an Inch; for what is it to me who my Maſter is, ſince I ſhall but carry my Panniers as uſual.

THAT parſimonious Diſpoſition, in our Colony Aſſemblies, have had, and we now feel it, and ever will have fatal Effects.

OUR Fellow Subjects in Virginia have ſhewn us a noble Example, which has already put ſome Life into our Indians: Witneſs the Half King's Speech to the French Officer. And as the like Encroachments, as I underſtand, have been lately made upon the People of New-England, it is not to be doubted, but that they will exert themſelves with the ſame Spirit and Bravery they did at Cape-Breton. And ſhall we, like a Parcel of Poltroons, ſtand aghaſt, with our Hands on our Pockets; we, I ſay, who have coſt the People of England, in nurſing and protecting us, more, perhaps, than all the other Colonies upon the Continent together; or grudge our Proportion of the Expence, adequate to the Importance it may be of to us? Let it not be told in Gath, or publiſhed in the Streets of Aſkelon.

IT has been obſerved, that Prieſts have been generally well received amongſt the Indians, whether upon Account of their religious Principles, or that the Indians being eternally ſurrounded by a Parcel of Handlers or Pickpockets, and finding the Parſon to avoid the Circle and the whole Sphere of Tranſactions of this Kind, that they conclude him an honeſt Man, I ſhall not take upon me to determine: I believe, however, the latter is the Caſe, as they very often take his Advice in Matters of Moment, while at the ſame time they have a very deſpicable Opinion of the others. It is by Means of the Prieſts, in a great Meaſure, that the French have ſucceeded ſo well in ſeducing our Indians, and confirming their own. I ſhould therefore adviſe, that there ſhould be a Parſon appointed for each Caſtle, no matter of what Church, with a handſome Allowance: And why might he not act as a Commiſſary as well as a Miſſionary, and deal out the Goods of the Government as well as thoſe of the Goſpel? The Offices are not at all incompatible; Biſhops have frequently been Lord Treaſurers. I can by no Means agree in Sentiment with thoſe Gentlemen who are for continuing that, in my humble Opinion, pernicious Trade, carried on for ſo many Years, between Canada and Albany, if there were no other Reaſon than that they ſeem really to want it, and that more than is generally imagined. I would fain know, whether they, upon any Conſideration, would allow us the ſame Liberties at Montreal or Quebeck? To ſee ſome Hundreds of French Indians, as Factors from Quebeck, trading for Indian Goods, who carry off not only Goods, but a large Share of our Specie; nothing of late will go down with them but Spaniſh Dollars; while a poor Trader of ours, if he has the Misfortune to meet with any of the French, within what they are now pleaſed to call their Dominions, is immediately hurried away Priſoner to Quebeck; This is a Contraſt that I ſhould be glad the Advocates for this Trade would account for.

IT is true, they take off of our Manufactures; but it is as true, that thoſe Commodities would be taken off our Hands directly by the Indians themſelves, when they found they could not have them among the French. It is likewiſe ſaid, if they had them not from us, they would find them elſewhere. To which I beg Leave to ſay, That the French know their Intereſt too well to truſt an Affair of that Conſequence ſo long to ſo precarious a Method of procuring them, as it is in our Power every Day to put a Stop to it: I therefore conclude, if they could have fallen upon any other Method of procuring thoſe Commodities, they would have done it long ago, and have kept their Furs to themſelves.

OUR ſelling our Indian Goods to the French, to trade for us with the Indians, and having in Return their coarſeſt Furs, is, in my humble Opinion, not leſs ridiculous than that of our formerly ſending our Wheat to Boſton, and having our Returns in Bran and ſome Flour. Beſides, what is of the utmoſt Conſequence to us, is, that the Cachawagas, our old Friends, and their beſt Indians, whom, coute qui'l coute, coſt what it will, we ought to recover, are the ſole Carriers and Managers in this Affair between Canada and Albany, which has created ſuch a Connection between them and the French, that till this Trade is aboliſhed, it will be impoſſible to accompliſh.

NOR can I conceive the Remedy very difficult, as it may very naturally be brought within the very Letter of the Twelfth of CHARLES II. which declares, That no Perſon, not born within the Allegiance of our Sovereign Lord the King, &c. ſhall trade in any of the Plantations, upon Pain of forfeiting all his Goods and Chattels, &c. A Law, however, here, perhaps, might anſwer better. I have but one Thing more to add, and that with great Submiſſion, being a Point that has not been as yet canvaſſed, and that is, That a general Combination of all the Indians, ſar and near, be formed, to demoliſh every Spot of fortified Ground in the Indian Countries on this Side Montreal, and the other Side of Schenectady, at leaſt that they be brought to one determinate Number, never to be exceeded: By this Means the Trade will ever be kept open; nor need we apprehend further Encroachments. The French, I doubt, are too well fixed to come into any ſuch Propoſal; but it will have one good Effect at leaſt, and that is, that it will convince the Indians, that we have no other Views but their Intereſt; while the French are endeavouring their Deſtruction, by cutting them off from all Communication with us, to be Maſters of their Hunting-grounds, and of Courſe they muſt either become their Slaves, or ſtarve.

How ſoon this may happen, God, and that great Monarch, can only tell: I am not, however, without Apprehenſions, you may, if you pleaſe, call them Dreams, that the French are upon a Plan different, and a Criſis much nearer, I doubt, than what we imagine. I can by no Means think that they, who are noted for their Frugality, would at this Time put themſelves to the Charge of raiſing an Army of 4 or 5000 Men, for the Sake of a paltry Block-houſe or two upon a Branch of Ohio, or any where elſe, which they might have done as 〈…〉 Men, and without any Noiſe, according to their uſual Method, in Matters of this Kind. I am further confirmed in my Opinion, that thoſe Block-houſes are not the ſole Point which the French have in View, from the Sentiments of our Aſſembly in a late Repreſentation to our Lieutenant-Governor, in theſe Words, That the French have built a Fort at a Place called the French Creek, at a conſiderable Diſtance from the River Ohio; which may, but does not, by any Evidence or Infor mation, appear to us to be an Invaſion of any of his Majeſty's Colonies: This is roundly aſſerted, but as it in ſome Meaſure confirms my Opinion, I ſhall leave it to whom it more immediately concerns to diſcuſs, hoping at the ſame time that our Enemies may not make an improper Uſe of it.

THOSE Block-houſes therefore, I ſay, are not, in my humble Opinion, their ſole Deſigns at preſent, they are rather imitating, as I conceive, thoſe ſagacious little Animals, who, in order to divert your Attention from the proper Object, their little Habitations, gently lead you to a proper Diſtance, till they think themſelves ſecure; and may not this be all Grimace, and a Feint, to draw our Attention and Troops from their proper Object, our Frontiers? to wit, What could be meant by a Number of Troops paſſing Oſwego in one Day, and returning in the Night, and the next Day paſſing again by the Fort? This is a very uncommon Piece of Conduct, and can mean nothing leſs than to draw our Attention and Troops after them into a Wild-gooſe Chaſe, with the View to make a Diverſion ſomewhere elſe.

WHAT can they mean by declaring that they do not want the Aſſiſtance of the Indians, but to lull them into a Neutrality till they ſtrike the Blow? If one may be allowed to form any Judgment at this Diſtance, of the Situation of our Publick Affairs at Home, a Rupture does not ſeem to be at ſo immenſe a Diſtance, but that a Monſieur Danville, or even that little Squadron, deſtined to chaſtiſe the Algerines, may bring us the firſt Account of it. And how ſoon are thoſe Thouſands upon the back of us, now under Arms, collected at Albany, with their Indians? Judge now, candid Reader, what a Situation we are in for ſuch an Event: And whom have we to thank for it? Without an Indian, without a Fort, that can with any Propriety be called ſo; without Ammunition, without Arms, without Money, and I doubt (from the indifferent Treatment thoſe Creditors of the Government have hitherto met with) without Credit. And ſhould we want the Aſſiſtance of our Neighbours, we have but juſt ſhewn a very bad Example. Such is our Situation: And if ſuch an Event ſhould happen, I ſee nothing left, but to pray to the Lord to have Mercy upon us.

WHAT a Fatality ſeems to attend the Proceedings of a Neighbour Colony, who at this very critical Point of Time treat the Decrees of Heaven, and the King, with great Contempt! They have the ſame Directions as the other Colonies have, to furniſh their Quota's, and attend the Congreſs at Albany, for the Preſervation of the Whole; but becauſe Providence has been pleaſed to lay its Hand upon that good Gentleman the Governor, ſo as to diſable him from attending the Aſſembly at Amboy, they are pleaſed to tell him, When he is well enough to attend them there, they will then conſider what is to be done; in the mean time their Quota's and the Congreſs is evaded: What, for God's Sake, muſt be the Conſequence of ſuch Proceedings, when our All is at Stake? Will that trite Tale of, We your Majeſty's moſt loyal Subjects, &c. protect them from his Majeſty's Diſpleaſure? Or do they truſt to the Rioters to protect them, either from that or the Enemy? Muſt a whole People ſuffer for the Caprice of a few Aſſembly-men?. Caprice I call it, and have too much Reaſon to call it ſo, and ſhall ever think it ſuch, till they are pleaſed to let us (in the moſt publick Manner) into the Reaſons of their Conduct; this we have a Right to demand; but more properly they ought to give it us without demanding, as they are accountable to the People for every Step they take, and, in Matters of Moment, ought not to proceed without firſt conſulting their Conſtituents. Here, Mr. Reflector, is an ample Field to expatiate in, and I would fain hope, from your pathetick Manner of Reaſoning, the Eyes of the Obſtinate, and Ignorant, may be opened, for their own Safety, as well as that of the Whole. I am ſtill in the Jerſeys: We have had a long Experience of his Majeſty's Lenity, how far it may extend I know not; but this I will affirm, that we have more to apprehend from a Parliamentary Scrutiny, than has as yet entered into the Heart of any of us to conceive; can any Body imagine that this Trifling with his Majeſty's Inſtructions, in an Affair of ſo much Conſequence to the Trade and Intereſt of Great-Britain, and to every Britiſh Subject, will, according to the uſual Cant, ſave the Country's Money? Will not the Commiſſioners from the ſeveral Colonies, and it is to be hoped a Majority will attend, in the firſt Place conſider the Danger we are in at this Point of Time? 2dly, How to prevent it now, and for the future? 3dly, Will they not make a Computation of the Expence? 4thly, Wild not thoſe very Commiſſioners proportion that Expence; giving to each Colony its Quota? Does the Jerſeys think to eſcape? This, of Courſe, will be laid before his Majeſty, which, from the Fate his Inſtructions have hitherto met with from that Aſſembly, as well as from ſome others, he will naturally order it to be laid before the Parliament, with whom there is no contending; and who knows, when their Hands are in, but they may take it into their Heads to lay the Foundation of a regular Government amongſt us, and taking it out of the Hands of the Aſſemblies, by fixing a Support for the Governor, and the other Officers of the Crown, independent of an Aſſembly? Nor can I ſee any great Difficulty in the Execution of it; it is only reviving our own Revenue Acts, to continue as long as his Majeſty, and his Parliament, thinks proper; there is nothing new in this, it is what we have been uſed to; thoſe Funds have been thought proper, both by the King, and Subject, and the only Difference is, as to the Point of Time. That a Governor for himſelf, and the Support of the Dignity of the Government, or the other Officers in the executive Part of the Laws, and Government, ſhould depend upon the Breath of a few capricious Country Gentlemen in an Aſſembly for their daily or yearly Subſiſtence and Support, or whether indeed they ſhall have any at all, is a Soleciſm in Politicks.

AND here I ſhall beg Leave to conclude with another Fable.

ABOAR ſtood whetting his Tuſks againſt an old Tree; the Fox, who happened to come by at the ſame Time, aſked him why he made thoſe Preparations of whetting his Teeth, ſince there was no Enemy near that he could perceive? That may be, Maſter Reynard, ſays the Boar; but we ſhould ſcour up our Arms while we have Leiſure, you know; for in Time of Danger we ſhall have ſomething elſe to do.

A WISE General has not his Men to diſcipline, or his Ammunition to provide, when the Trumpet ſounds TO ARMS; but ſets apart his Times of Exerciſe for one, and his Magazines for t'other, in the calm Seaſon of Peace.

In Pace, ut Sapiens, aptabit idonea Bello.